Abstract: Legal papers, correspondence, meeting minutes, newsletters, pamphlets, publicity material, photographs, clippings, research
material, financial records, manuscripts, handwritten notes, audiotape, ephemera and other material from philanthropist and
female-to-male transgender/transsexual individual, Reed Erickson (1912-1992). Having built his wealth through oil investments
and other entrepreneurial endeavors, Erickson founded the Erickson Educational Foundation (EEF) in 1964, a charitable foundation
primarily created to support transgender, transsexual, and gender identity research and services. The bulk of this collection
is related to the activities of the EEF, research material on gender identity, as well as Erickson's relationship with the
gay and lesbian organization, ONE, Incorporated, which he supported financially for nearly twenty years. The collection also
includes some material on Erickson's personal life, including material related to Erickson's children, his former wives, and
his health- and drug-related complications in the last years of his life.

creator:
Erickson, Reed L., 1912-1992

Biography

Reed Erickson was born in El Paso, Texas, on October 13, 1917. Initially named Rita Alma Erickson, Erickson was born female-bodied.
Erickson spent most of his early life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating high school, Erickson attended Temple
University. Erickson moved with his family to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, resulting in a transfer to Louisiana State University.
Erickson moved back to Philadelphia after graduating from Louisiana State University with a degree in mechanical engineering.
In the early 1950s, Erickson returned to Baton Rouge, working in his family's business before starting his own company making
stadium seating, Southern Seating. In 1962, Erickson's father passed away, leaving him the family business, which he successfully
ran until 1969 when he sold it for 5 million dollars.

Erickson began his transgender transition under the care of sex realignment surgery pioneer, Dr. Harry Benjamin, in 1963.
Once his physical appearance matched his identity, he changed his name to Reed and began fully living his life as a male.
His transition was completed in 1965. In this period of transition, he married and divorced his first wife. Later that year,
Erickson met and married his second wife. The couple lived in Baton Rouge, where they had two children. During this period,
Erickson had started to experiment with recreational drugs. Over time, Erickson's substance abuse of hallucinogenic drugs
and cocaine increased, causing strain in his life and relationships. In 1974, Erickson and his second wife divorced. Shortly
after his second divorce, Erickson met his third wife. In 1981, he moved to Ojai, California, to be closer to his children
and second wife. By 1983, after a series of arrests, Erickson fled to Mexico to escape drug-related indictments, and he remained
there for the rest of his life.

Despite a difficult personal life, Erickson successfully managed his investments and became a major philanthropist. In 1964,
Erickson founded the Erickson Educational Foundation (EEF), a charitable foundation primarily created to support research
and services in transgenderism, gender identity and sexual diversity. Throughout the late-1960s and 1970s, Erickson donated
money to various organizations including the Harry Benjamin Foundation, the Johns Hopkins Gender Identity Clinic, and ONE,
Incorporated. Shortly after his initial donation to ONE, Erickson aided the establishment of a charitable sector of ONE, called
the Institute for the Study of Human Resources (ISHR), which advocated for the advancement of homosexual research. In establishing
ISHR as a nonprofit funding organization--and through the help of Erickson and EEF--ONE was able to start and maintain research
study programs, a library, gay and lesbian studies courses and lecture series. This led to ONE becoming a California state-accredited
institution in 1981, providing graduate-level education in gay and lesbian studies. The first homophile studies degrees were
given in 1982, and the ONE Institute of Graduate Studies presented Erickson with an honorary doctoral degree that same year.

In 1983, Erickson's relationship with ONE, Inc. began to dissolve due to a dispute over the real estate property known as
the Milbank Estate. The Milbank Estate was purchased by Erickson and used as headquarters for ONE, Inc. However, by 1984,
Erickson had ceased funding and was pressing to remove ONE from the estate. In 1986, ONE no longer possessed authorization
to provide degrees, but continued to conduct homophile classes, publish its newsletter, and maintain its library and lecture
series. The Milbank property was divided, but the terms of the legal dispute were not resolved until after Erickson's death
in 1992.

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Publication Rights

Researchers wishing to publish material must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives as the
physical owner of the material. Note that permission to publish does not constitute copyright clearance. ONE National Gay
& Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold copyright. It is the responsibility
of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials from the copyright holder(s).

Formerly in boxes 103-144, 104-032, and 104-033. Collection processed by Joy Novak in 2006 and revised by Loni Shibuyama in
May 2010.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of legal papers, correspondence, meeting minutes, newsletters, pamphlets, publicity material, photographs,
clippings, research material, financial records, manuscripts, handwritten notes, audiotape, ephemera and other material from
philanthropist and female-to-male transgender/transsexual individual, Reed Erickson (1912-1992). The bulk of this collection
is related to the activities of the EEF, research material on gender identity, as well as Erickson's relationship with ONE,
Incorporated, which he supported financially for nearly twenty years. The collection also includes some material on Erickson's
personal life, including material related to Erickson's children, his former wives, and his health- and drug-related complications
in the last years of his life.

The collection is divided into six series:

(1) The Erickson Educational Foundation (EEF) series comprises minutes, correspondence, publications, ephemera, and other
records documenting the activities of the EEF. Some of the materials were created and maintained by Zelda Suplee, who served
as EEF director and, ostensibly, as a personal assistant to Erickson.

(2) The ONE, Incorporated and the Institute for the Study of Human Resources (ISHR) series comprises material that documents
the relationship between Erickson, ONE, Inc., and ISHR. The bulk of this series consists of papers related to the legal dispute
over the Milbank Estate, a real estate property that Erickson purchased in 1983, and which was occupied by ONE, Inc.

(3) The Personal series comprises financial records, correspondence, family-related materials, writings and other materials
from Erickson's personal life.

(5) The Photographs series comprises photographs of Reed Erickson, as well as other subjects related to his life. Notably,
this series includes Erickson's photo album entitled "Eric's Ego Trip," which has photographs of Erickson throughout his life,
including early years when Erickson lived as female.

(6) The Audiotape series comprises reel-to-reel audiotapes with recordings of presentations and workshops on transsexual issues.

Separated Materials

The following publications have been separated from the Reed L. Erickson collection and entered into the ONE National Gay
& Lesbian Archives' database:

Money, John, and Patricia Tucker.
Sexual Signatures: On Being a Man or a Woman. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company, 1975.

This series comprises articles of incorporation, minutes, reports, correspondence, clippings, financial records, photographs,
newsletters, pamphlets, manuscripts, notes, a pen, a rubber stamp, and other printed material from the Erickson Educational
Foundation (EEF), a philanthropic organization established and led by Reed Erickson. Zelda Suplee served as director of EEF
and as an assistant to Erickson. Materials in this series include correspondence to and from transsexual or transgender individuals
and organizations, documents describing the on-going activities of EEF, as well as educational materials published by EEF
for the transsexual community. The majority of the correspondence is to or from Zelda Suplee.

ONE, Incorporated and the Institute for the Study of Human Resources (ISHR) Series 2.
1964-1994

Physical Description:
2.0 linear feet.

Series Scope and Content

This series is divided into two subseries: (2.1) General and (2.2) Legal papers.

General Subseries 2.1.
1964-1993

Physical Description:
0.7 linear foot.

Subseries Scope and Content

This subseries comprises correspondence, real estate records, legal papers, financial records and other materials that document
Erickson's professional relationship with Dorr Legg, ONE, Incorporated and the Institute for the Study of Human Resources
(ISHR). After first meeting Dorr Legg in the early 1960s, Erickson began donating funds to ONE on a regular basis, which was
a substantial resource for ONE's on-going research and educational operations. Erickson is also largely responsible for the
founding of ISHR, a non-profit organization primarily created to allow ONE to accept charitable donations. The materials in
this series document the decades-long relationship between Erickson, ONE, Inc., and ISHR.

Arrangement note

Folders in this subseries are arranged chronologically.

Box 2, Folder 20

Reed Erickson's correspondence with Dorr Legg1964-1986

Box 10, Folder 7

Erickson Educational Foundation correspondence with ONE, Inc., and the Institute for the Study of Human Resources1964-1984

Physical Description:
[1 oversize folder]

Box 2, Folder 21

Zelda Suplee correspondence with Dorr Legg1968-1989

Box 2, Folder 22

General correspondence regarding Reed Erickson and the Milbank Estate1971-1991

Box 2, Folder 23

ONE Institute honorary degree to Reed Erickson1982

Box 2, Folder 24

Economic analysis for purchase 1220, 1238 Highland AvenueOctober 1982

Box 3, Folder 1

Dorr Legg's notes and documents regarding the Milbank Estate1982-1992

Physical Description: [4 photographs : col.]

Box 3, Folder 2

Acquisition of Milbank Estate from the Church Universal and Triumphant, Inc.1983

Box 3, Folder 3

Milbank Estate and Country Club Dr. mapscirca 1983-1984

Box 3, Folder 4

Dorr Legg correspondence with Thomas Hunter Russell, Esq.1983-1993

Box 3, Folder 5

Correspondence regarding the attempt to prohibit ONE Institute from the Milbank Estate1983-1984

Box 3, Folder 6

Correspondence regarding mail theft at the Milbank Estate1983-1990

Box 3, Folder 7

Milbank Estate security and maintenance records1983-1984

Box 3, Folder 8

ONE Institute and the Institute for the Study of Human Resources brochurescirca 1984

Box 3, Folder 9

Notice of Terminating Tenancy at Will1984

Box 3, Folder 10

Correspondence regarding Reed Erickson's health1984-1986

Box 3, Folder 11

Documents from Reed Erickson's employees1984-1985

Box 3, Folder 12

Erickson's attorney contracts and financial records1984-1985

Box 3, Folder 13

Preliminary investigations1984-1987

Box 3, Folder 14

Institute for the Study of Human Resources. Property tax penalties1985-1992

Box 3, Folder 15

Eviction notice for Monica Erickson1990

Box 3, Folder 16

Inventory of missing file drawers1990

Box 3, Folder 17

Milbank Estate architectural conservation invoice1991

Box 3, Folder 18

Photocopies of Milbank Estate titles and deeds1992

Box 10, Folder 8

Miscellaneous notes regarding Reed EricksonNo date

Physical Description:
[1 oversize folder]

Legal papers Subseries 2.2.
1984-1994

Physical Description:
1.3 linear feet.

Subseries Scope and Content

This subseries comprises legal records, correspondence and other materials related to the legal disputes between Erickson
and ONE, Incorporated, over the Milbank Estate, a real estate property that was purchased by Erickson in 1983 and subsequently
used as the offices for ONE, Inc. and the Institute for the Study of Human Relations (ISHR). Monica Erickson, Reed Erickson's
daughter, took over her father's estate as his mental health started to deteriorate while living in Mexico.

Arrangement note

Folders in this subseries have been grouped by legal case number and arranged chronologically.

Box 3, Folder 19

Case #C508225 - Coates vs. ONE, Inc., et al.1984

Box 3, Folder 20-23

Case #C541097 - Legg vs. Erickson, et al.1984-1989

Physical Description:
[4 folders]

Box 3, Folder 20

Correspondence1984-1988

Box 10, Folder 9

Notes and correspondence1985

Physical Description:
[1 oversize folder]

Box 3, Folder 21

Summons1985-1986

Box 3, Folder 22

Cross-complaint1985-1986

Box 3, Folder 23

Dorr Legg's interrogatories and proof of physical or emotional distress1985-1989

This series consists of correspondence, family- and health-related materials, financial investment records, income tax returns,
writings and notes related to Reed Erickson's personal life. In particular, this series includes materials documenting Erickson's
drug-related arrests in California and his years living in Mexico. This series also includes a number of Erickson's diary-like
writings and handwritten notes describing his thoughts and feelings.

Arrangement note

Erickson's last will and testament as well as family-related materials are at the beginning of this series. The remaining
folders are arranged alphabetically.

This series consists of pamphlets, clippings, journal articles, and other informational material about transgenderism, transsexualism,
gender dysphoria, gender identity and related subject matter. It includes publications by other gender identity research organizations
that existed at the time, including Interplast, Outreach Institute, Janus Information Facility, and Sex Information and Education
Council of the United States (SIECUS).

"The transsexual: deviant behavior or the psychic-hermaphrodite?" by Elliot BlackstoneNo date

Box 8, Folder 17

Outreach Institute1980

Box 8, Folder 18

Renaissance: Gender Identity ServicesNo date

Box 8, Folder 19

Sex Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)1968

Box 8, Folder 20

World University of America1983

Photographs Series 5.
circa 1917 - 1985

Physical Description:
0.4 linear foot.

Series Scope and Content

This series comprises photographs related to Erickson and his personal life. In particular, Erickson's photo album entitled
"Eric's Ego Trip" includes 65 photographs of Erickson and his family at various stages in his life, including his younger
years when he lived as a female.

Box 9, Item 1

"Eric Ego Trip" [photo album]circa 1917-1971

General Physical Description note: [65 photographs : b&w , col.]

Scope and Contents note

Numerous photographs of Reed Erickson from birth through 1967. Included are photographs of Erickson with family and friends,
including Daisy Erickson and Aileen Ashton.